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Post by drrook on Jan 6, 2016 15:14:58 GMT -5
Looking across at the lady he notices she seems to be quite caught up with the tablet . He smiles and turns to Dirk . "I have a feeling we may have lost her for a while . She obviously is easily distracted by interesting oddities . But then again so are we all " He laughs "Pleasure to meet you dear boy . . Now what else can you offer in the way of insight into our curious item ? "
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Post by dirkquatermain on Jan 6, 2016 18:59:01 GMT -5
With a glance at their companion Dirk chuckles. "I believe you're right." He turns his attention back to the esteemed doctor. "In answer to your question, not much, but I shall give you my observations. Let us start with the object itself. I do not profess to be an expert in geology, but I have been on several digs in Peru, and this slate doesn't seem to match any known strata in the area. I wouldn't even hazard a guess as to where it was originally from. But the real mystery is the writing. As I said, it doesn't correspond to any known language one would expect to encounter on a Peruvian artifact. As a matter of fact, it doesn't match any native pictograms I am aware of. The characters look almost like a hybrid of Scandinavian runes and Chinese ideograms, but that doesn't make sense. I swear I have seen a sample of this script before, but it escapes me where. What of you, can you provide any more information on the finding of this mystery?"
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Post by Delphine on Jan 7, 2016 20:33:32 GMT -5
The lady suddenly remembers that she is not alone. "I am Madame Delphine Fontaine," she answers quietly, arching her eyebrow at the stranger - though not unkindly. A small smirk pulls at the corner of her mouth. "I understand the allure of a good mystery and do not begrudge you your curiosity. I am something of a linguist myself, but mostly of modern languages." She runs her fingers lightly over the surface of the tablet once more. "Absolutely fascinating."
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Post by drrook on Jan 8, 2016 15:21:35 GMT -5
The Dr smiles as he sees the lady has recovered from her reverie . "Welcome back my dear . It had the same effect on me when I first examined it . Did you see anything while examining it . As in a dream of sorts ? " He turns to Quatermain . "Actually there is an interesting story behind its find . " He lights up his pipe . " it was found in a very well hidden chamber of a Peruvian priest burial mound . It was found to be a chamber that predates the mound by some considerable time . As if the mound was built on top of the original chamber . The chamber has a very makeshift alter in it. This is were it gets even more peculiar . Brace yourselves as you may not believe the rest . " He takes a deep suck on his pipe and readjusts his glasses . "What was above the alter is something my friend Dr Miles , could not really put into words . What little we could get from him was that it was a strange amalgamation of Octopus and bird . Except to use his words , it shifted and moved into strange angles he could not comprehend . Because of the effect the figure had on him he vacated the chamber almost immediately and set charges to seal it forever . He has since delivered the tablet to me . I have not seen him since and I now worry for his sanity and well being . I realise this sounds fantastical in nature but it is all totally true I assure you . Your thoughts ? " He sits . His hands out in front of him . An expectant look on his face
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Post by Delphine on Jan 8, 2016 19:09:57 GMT -5
Delphine hands over the tablet, reluctantly. It is as though the stange artifact has a magnetic effect on her, pulling at her even though she no longer touches it. As if, now that she has held it, its presence will always be missed in her hands. It is rather unsettling, to say the least.
"I have heard tell of such strange hybrid creatures, though never specifically about a bird-cephalopod combination. I believe they are called chimera? There are many legends from many lands that speak of them." She pauses for a moment to consider carefully."I am sorry to hear of your friend's state, but I fear it is a common reaction when faced with such a creature. The human mind, unable to assimilate what it is seeing with its conception of reality, fractures. Have there been other sightings reported in that area?" she asks.
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Post by dirkquatermain on Jan 8, 2016 23:31:45 GMT -5
Dirk looks deep in thought, like there's a nagging... something just below the surface, waiting to be brought to light. "Octopus and bird... Interesting." He slowly mumbles to himself. He looks up suddenly, as if it's finally come to him. "Have either of you a scrap of paper and a pen? There's something I must check."
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Post by drrook on Jan 9, 2016 12:30:57 GMT -5
As Delphine hands the tablet over Dr Rook smiles a wry smile "so you feel it too dear lady . The need to be in contact with this artifact . It's pull is strong isn't it . " He shakes his head at the mention of chimera . "I think not dear lady . I believe it to be some more ancient and evil than even that . He notices Dirk mumbling and at the mention of pen and paper pulls with a flourish a bound note book and Golden fountain pen from a pocket . He hands it to Dirk . "Will these suffice ?"
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Post by dirkquatermain on Jan 9, 2016 15:53:48 GMT -5
"More than suffice." Dirk replies, accepting the proffered instruments. He tears a small slip of paper from a blank sheet and proceeds to right a quick note on it before waving to Bernard. "Bernard, can you have one of the house servants run over to the University Library for me. There is a book I must have. It will not be on the regular shelves, but it is there. Have him give this note to the head librarian only, and he will fetch it."
Having given the note to Bernard, he turns back to his companions. "I knew I had seen these glyphs, or something like them anyway, before. But it was your mention of the weird bird octopus creature that stirred my memory. In 1606, a Spanish explorer named Pedro Fernandes de Queirós reached Vanuatu in the South Pacific. His journals of the trip have been published many times, but what most people don't know is the volumes available to the public have been edited, heavily. But, copies of the originals do survive, if one knows where to look, and it just so happens the library here has one. In one entry he describes landing at a small volcanic island, barely more than a spit of rock, but home to a particularly vicious and debased tribe. He described how this tribe worshipped some kind of creature, sating it with human sacrifice and profane rituals. When he finally convinced one of the natives to show him the alter, it was as you describe, ancient and crude, covered in weird glyphs he had never seen before, and topped with a idol, a hideous thing he described as the unholy union of bird, bat and squid. He sketched it and some of the symbols in his log, but the effort cost him his health, he was never quite the same. "
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Post by drrook on Jan 10, 2016 15:50:26 GMT -5
nicely done my friend . interesting direction indeed "hmm , much like my friend you mean . You know something dear boy I may have seen one the books you mention in my travels . Also i see now why our superiors pointed you in my direction. you do realise don't you there are no coincidences in life . Everything is preordained" He turns to Bernard , " A drink for my new friend please . what is your poison Dirk?"
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Post by Delphine on Jan 10, 2016 16:20:13 GMT -5
"I thought he had been dismissed as a religious madman after his mysterious reappearance," says Delphine, recalling the strange tales she had heard about his travels. "Though there is certainly no easier way to have someone discredited than to question their sanity." She ponders in silence for a moment. "The university truly has an unedited version of his memoirs? I very much look forward to studying them." Another beat of silence.
"And even if he was crazy, that does not mean he was lying."
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Post by dirkquatermain on Jan 10, 2016 17:02:54 GMT -5
Dirk turned to the doctor, "Indeed, I have completely stopped believing in coincidence since joining the society. A nice stout shall be fine, I believe Bernard brews one on site that is rumored to be one of the finest around."
He next turns to Delphine, "He was indeed labeled a madman. The church's favorite method at the time of discrediting those who know more than they should, and have seen more than is safe. The library here does have a copy, though its existence is kept a close secret. I only know of it by the kindness of the head librarian. He knew my interest in such matters, and showed it to me after I had done him a, "favor", involving a one of a kind tome in a certain library in Venice. But that is neither here nor there. As for the journals themselves, up until his visit to the uncharted isle they are rather dry; standard ships logs and exploratory notes. But afterwards, they meander off in strange directions and ramblings. It's not much, but it may be a start to finding other pieces of this puzzle."
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Post by dirkquatermain on Jan 12, 2016 9:25:59 GMT -5
As he is speaking, one of the servants walks in, carrying a carefully wrapped bundle. Dirk takes the package and hands the man a few coins for his speedy return. "Thank you my good man."
He turns to his companions and unwraps the bundle, revealing a handsomely bound leather volume which he lays in the middle of the table. "Let's see, it was after leaving Vanuatu that he discovered the island, sometime on his way back," he says, flipping pages. "Aha, here we go. This is the entry I was telling you of. And look at the sketches. The runes and the horrible chimerical idol." He turns the book so the lady and the doctor can better read the indicated pages. "What do you make of that?"
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Post by drrook on Jan 12, 2016 9:42:26 GMT -5
A light seems to go on in the Dr's eyes and he moves forward and resets his glasses . He quickly scans the plages and diagrams . "Very interesting dear boy , very interesting . Do you notice the commonality between the symbols prescribed to the chimerical statue and the tablet in our possession. . We really could be on to something here . What do you think dear lady ? " He turns to Delphine
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Post by Delphine on Jan 14, 2016 18:25:49 GMT -5
"Interesting, indeed..." she says, studying the entry in question. "Unfortunately, symbology is not my specialty. I have a dear friend who may be of assistance in this matter. The pictogrammes are eerily similar, however. Almost as though they were drawn by the same hand, though surely that would be impossible?"
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Post by dirkquatermain on Jan 14, 2016 23:25:46 GMT -5
"Quite impossible." Dirk agrees. "As for your friend, I am quite agreeable to having another expert opinion, as long as you can vouch for his reliability and discretion. And if the good doctor agrees, of course."
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